'Times Past' came to life as Philip showed Happy Circle some of his videos of Pilton events in the 1960s and ‘70s. Didn't we enjoy seeing ourselves in those good old days!

We were amazed at how simple was the entertainment we found so satisfactory then - a few dances; some sing-alongs; groups of friends getting together.

There was no need for iPads and iPhones and non-stop trivia and some people's unpleasantness on Twitter and Facebook.

Let's re-evaluate what is really important - simple companionship and support among good friends. Thank you, Philip, for reminding us how the church roof was mended; the Playing Field levelled; the Village Hall Centenary dinner - our daughter's 18th birthday in the Manor Restaurant. Let's all support events in the village which will furnish happy memories for other generations when they approach their dotage - they will need them!

One such event was Happy Circle's Christmas lunch in a Mendip hostelry. It's a different world up on the hill where the Romans transported Priddy lead and silver eastwards to the Channel and Rome. We all successfully travelled the lanes and arrived in good time for lunch in a lovely decorated dining room. Wine flowed, crispy potatoes were crunched; sea bass swam on lakes of ratatouille. The ladies shone in their sparkly party clothes.

Thank you, George. We know how to enjoy the moment and are determined to share many more.

John Howe.

January 2015

There proved to be very welcoming ‘room at the inn’ for the Happy Circle Christmas lunch held at The Lanes at West Coker. What a happy melding of Edwardian vicarage and modern accommodation and ideally suited to the diverse tastes of our membership.

Talking of taste, what a satisfying lunch we sat down to in the beautifully prepared dining room. Traditional food cooked with just enough of the ‘Pro celebrity chef’ touch. Generally, lunch was voted a ‘Len’s Ten’.

Our thanks to the organisers in the Club and, particularly, to the attentive and friendly hotel staff. We shall be back!

February 2015

Do our members ever realise how lucky we are in the range of people prepared to come to entertain and inform us?

This month we recall totally diverse meetings with engaging, talented speakers. In ‘Westminster Wife’, Janet Ladyman quickly dispelled some of the misconceptions which photos of ladies such as the PM’s glamorous wife promote. It’s not all ‘glam’ with ‘black and white parties’ or rides in a pink/magenta minibus! No – we quickly realised that dedication was needed to support the weak in her husband’s constituency; to promote deeply held beliefs; and tirelessly balance family and political demands. Janet was truly ‘Action Woman’ in both roles. How lucky we are that she is now sharing this focussed energy with our village community.

‘Silversmithing’ was our next treasure to enjoy, and treasures we were shown. What a feeling it must be to create such jewels of skill from a lifeless ingot of silver! How much of the designer’s skill shone from every piece exhibited! Fancy! One of our own members has her own hallmark and one day may achieve prominence on Bargain Hunt or Flog It!

Thank you. John Howe

March 2015

Happy Circle is of an age to have developed its own traditions. One favourite – Bingo! How lucky we are to have Audrey and Terry to run the happy show for us and how lucky was our Chairman, Janet, to have the numbers on her cards – due recompense for the work she puts in to ensure a vibrant and well-run Club.

‘Recalling My Grandma’ produced some surprises. It quickly became clear that in the 30s and 40s many women had short lives so that several of our members had not known their Grandmas. What a loss! Those who had known their Grans had grown up not just emotionally but also geographically close to them. Mum and I moved to live with my Grandma when my father was killed at El Alamein. What an influence Grandmas were in those days – loving, spoiling, and, in those formative years, guiding our development – a bed rock of stability and standards.

If you are a Grandparent in today’s dispersed families, stay in touch with your Grandchildren. Love is now a postcard, a phone call a text or a twitter or even a selfie! You have ideas and values to share – carry the torch!

John Howe

April 2015

Night-club bouncer and self-confessed naughty boy to inspired artist and teacher! What an engrossing and enjoyable afternoon Sean Clarke gave to Happy Circle. When did we see such concentration as members folded paper squares to make a trinket box? Will any of them progress to making the wonderful paper origami sculptures on display for our delight? If anyone who runs a club reads this then book him .........he is a revelation as an artist, performer and person.

More art!

This time great photography as Brian Smith illustrated comprehensively how he loves his visits to India. Not only were the photos of high technical skill but taken with an accomplished eye – emphasising form, colour and contrasts of stillness and movement.

The flavours of India were expressed in vivid pictures of market stalls of fruit and vegetables, steaming cauldrons of rice and plates of exotic street food but most particularly in the portraits of people. The photos of happy children, united families, friendly shopkeepers and the turbaned old soldiers of Rajasthan will long live in our memories. Thank you, Brian for sharing your passion and skill with us, proving that armchair travel can broaden the mind!

John Howe

June 2015

“Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning”! Well, a bright sunny day at Woodford Lodge beside Chew Valley Lake must push it pretty close. Fluffy white cumulus against an azure sky, the multitude of greens as grass and trees experience their spring rebirth, mating Great Crested Grebes – isn’t this a foretaste of heaven? Great food meticulously served in a dining room with surrounding views. Thank you to everyone who set up this delight and, of course, Happy Birthday to Happy Circle!

Talking of delight brings you immediately to our April guest speaker Mickey Fitzpatrick. What a powerhouse of a lady! What a flow of monologues, jokes and stories all designed to make us laugh, take us out of our day-to-day stress, relax us – but when remembered didn’t they provide a knowing commentary on life’s inconsistencies and absurdities? Lead a full life - the underlying message – drink deep of its joys and surmount its sorrows. We needed more of this in a week dominated by undignified and unenlightening electioneering squabbles.

Thank you Mickey – you are already pencilled in for next year!

John Howe

July 2015

Hearsay! Sandra and I had swanned off to Portugal! What lengths some people will go to in order to miss the excitements of an AGM! I believe that, as usual, the Committee received a vote of confidence and were re-elected en bloc. We must be doing something right, tho’ no doubt not everything. After all who but me is perfect?

Margaret Adams then gave her talk “Still living with the Boss”. Her tongue was probably firmly in her cheek but this did not impede a string of amusing stories greatly entertaining her audience. Thank you, Margaret.

We were back, bronzed and well-birded, 60 plus varieties - eat your heart out Heinz, to appreciate Pat Hase performing in her inimitable style. We had already enjoyed all her talks so, practically off the cuff, such is her versatility, she modified one already on the stocks. With photos, she showed us her life, budding, then flowering and now reaching fruition and involving many acts of service to others. Her talks are by no means the least of these accomplishments. Pat, it was a lovely afternoon. We anticipate ‘Lady Convicts’ will entertain us ‘At Her Majesty’s pleasure’.

John Howe

August 2015

Sorry, dear reader, but I missed the visit to Exmouth. As members basked in the Devon sunshine I was birding close to the snow line in the Turkish Toros. Everyone enjoyed Exmouth. No reports of anyone wearing a 'Kiss me Quick’ hat but all were imbued with 'British by the Sea' enthusiasm. Years ago I used to catch the train along the Exe Estuary to meet charming girls at Rolle College. I often had to run to catch the last train home - I bet no one was running to catch the bus back to Pilton!

'Across the Andes' was George and Sheila’s beautifully illustrated talk on their South American cruise. What an experience - what contrasts! The beautiful boulevards of Argentina with opulent cathedrals; the bleakness of the Falklands - even the penguins having to take to their burrows to avoid biting winds. George in twelve layers of clothes - a great impression of Michelin man! Then the volcanoes and glaciers of Tierra del Fuego. Thank you for taking us to what was once the very end of the known world.

Once again, Michael, thank you for the fascinating tour of the Festival site. John Howe

September 2015

Do we need to give ourselves treats? Indeed we do! You can copy our example by taking yourself and friends for lunch at Cole Manor, Bruton. Great food, lovely garden and riverside walks with trout sipping in mayfly – bliss for the angler who, years ago, used to fish the River Pit for five shillings a day! The Test in Hampshire is now £400 per day to catch ‘tame’ Rainbows in the company of the country’s Home Counties’ elite. Give me the beauty of Somerset and our own Pilton folk every time!

“Who, Where, Why and What” was Sandra and John’s photo quiz. Fifty taxing questions stirred up the ‘grey matter’ helping to keep ageing at bay for a little longer. Molly led her team to a fine victory and kindly shared the prize all round. Told you our Pilton folk are great!

We look forward to Molly’s tea party (19/8) & ‘Inside the fence’ (3/9) when we learn about policing the Glastonbury Festival site.

Soon we start planning next year’s programme. Any ideas? We cater for 50 – 90 pluses Do you fit the bill? Come and give us a try – a hearty welcome awaits!

John Howe

October 2015

Our friend Sara - the friendly PC from Wincanton - gave us the low-down on policing inside the Glastonbury Festival Berlin Wall. How things have changed over the years since Michael doled out free milk, T.Rex entertained magnificently on a stage of railway sleepers and we were all mildly turned on simply by breathing in the evening air - we thought it was wood smoke! That fence made all the difference after the middle years of bad behaviour. Inside is secure with little crime and the boys and girls in blue mingling happily with the crowds – community policing at its best. Thank you, Sara, let’s have more officers with your light touch.

The Forest of Dean bus and steam train trip was a great success, my reporter tells me. Lovely weather – no rain ’til back in Pilton. Great scenery, comfort stops and a pleasant cafe for refreshment. A big thank you to George for the planning and execution of the day. We do enjoy our trips.

We love the nostalgia – the smoke from the funnel – the steam from the pistons – the clickity clack from steel wheels on steel rails – shouts of ‘mind the gap’ – the guard’s whistle! What memories of choir and Sunday School outings. Simple joys so firmly lodged in the brain.

November 2015

Our meeting on 30th September was cancelled as many members wished to pay their respects to Bob Hurley who is remembered as one of the kindest Piltonians. We send all our condolences to his family.

At our first October meeting Sara Robertson came loaded with craft items and taught us how to use them to good purpose producing a Christmas card. We look forward to many original greetings this year – inspired by a fascinating afternoon. Thank you, Sara, keep on crafting!

We would like to invite all villagers to our 11th November meeting when we have what promises to be an engrossing lecture on the wildlife of the North Somerset Coast. There are some fine and varied sites to visit only a short distance from here – let’s learn how to enjoy them.

John Howe

Dec 2015

The first November meeting was that old but loved standby – Cards and Games – not much to report here but a chance to say thank you to our two dedicated tea ladies, Ann and Jane. In so many parts of life we take too much for granted and say thank you too seldom. Who arrives early at our meetings, looks after us and leaves when we are well on our way home? – You know who! Your efforts on our behalf are greatly appreciated.

Somerset’s Coast – we’ve all been and think we know it well. Nigel Phillips of the Somerset Wildlife Trust showed us just how superficial our knowledge is. So many of our coastline’s joys need you to get down and dirty in the Burnham mud and the Minehead rock pools. Illustrated with superb photos we learnt of wheeling flocks of sanderling, sea slugs and sea hares, a new world on our doorsteps.

Thank you, Nigel, for one of the best talks of our year. A pleasure we can sustain as we read your masterly book.